beaumont



UNETED STATES PATENT @Frrca.

W'M. D. BEAUMONT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

COMPOUND FOR iMPARTING A GLOSS TO CLOTH ES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 7,695, dated October 8, 1850; antedated a July 26, 1850.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. BEAUMONT, of the city and county of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful compound to be used in the washing and starching of clothes for giving a gloss or smooth surface to the same when ironed, which I denominate the Starch Polish, and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full and clear description thereof.

The natureof this composition or compound consists in the use of stearic acid, white wax, oil of Sassafras, and spermaceti, combined in such quantities and dissolved by gradual heat, so as to produce, when cooled, a polish in the form of cakes or bars, to be used with the ordinary starch, in smallquantities, which has the effect of imparting-to the shirts, linens, and other fabrics thus starched a beautiful gloss and smooth surface, similar to that produced by the process of sizing and ironing linens in the roll, and also prevents the sad-iron from adhering thereto when ironing the same, and also prevents the dust floating in the atmosphere' from sticking to the linens after being ironed for use. These are important points gained by the use of this compound.

Process of making the compound: Take one part of stcaric acid; one of spermaceti; one of white wax. There may be added to these a small quantity of oil of sassafras for the purpose of imparting apleasant odor to the starch and also to the articles of wearing-apparel, say about one ounce to one hundred two-inch cakes. Theseingredients are placed in a copperkettle and melted to a liquid state gradually over a slow fire, when it is removed and after being slightly cooled the oil of sassat'r'as may be added. It is then poured into molds open at their upper ends. in which state it is crystallized or congealed into cakes, balls, or bars, and removed in a fit state for use. The use of the stearic acid has the effect of puritying and settling the starch, which prevents the sad-iron adhering tothe linens and gives the gloss. The white wax gives a firmness and body to the fibers ot the linens, and the spermaceti imparts, in connection with the stearic acid, the polish or gloss, and prevents the dust from sticking to the surface of the linens after having been ironed, and also resists the action of damp and rainy weather.

It should have been added that during the process of makingthe compound a smallquantity of quicklime is necessary to be added to settle the ingredients while being dissolved. Having thus described my compound forimparting a polish or gloss to the ordinary starch, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The within described compound of stearic acid, white wax, spermaceti, and quicklime prepared as fully set forth.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing witnesses.

WM. D. BEAUMONT.

Witnesses:

WM. P. ELLIOT, JOHN S. SMITH. 

